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Blurb:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Christy needs to heal after years of abuse and knows he needs help to do it. After the death of his notorious father, he leaves his native Greece and settles in upstate New York. Alone, afraid, and left without a voice, Christy hides the myriad scars of his abuse. He desperately wants to be loved and when he meets Michael, he dares to hope that day has arrived. When one of Michael’s team-mates becomes an enemy and an abuser from Christy’s past seeks to return him to a life of slavery, only Michael and Christy’s combined strength and unwavering determination can save them from the violence that threatens to destroy their future together.<\/p>\n Purchase Omorphi from<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Harmony Ink Press\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/a>\u00a0Amazon\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Barnes & Noble\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0ARe\/OmniLit<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph Conrad, during a discussion of the writer\u2019s \u2018job,\u2019 declared, \u201cIt is above all to make you see<\/i>.\u201d I wholeheartedly agree. Through our words, we must fill readers\u2019 minds, hearts, and imaginations with thoughts, feelings, and visions in the mind\u2019s eye. We do it in two ways by building interesting and relatable plots and characters. Arguments as to which of these two elements is more important have ensued between authors for millennia: the old \u201cI wrote a plot driven story\u201d versus \u201cI wrote a character driven story.\u201d Having had the benefit of having a prolific author as a grandparent, this conundrum was resolved for me early on. They\u2019re equally important, as they are not<\/i> strictly separate elements. You read that right and here\u2019s a quote from my grandfather to help you:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI have never understood how otherwise responsible writers and editors can talk about \u2018plot\u2019 and \u2018character\u2019 as though they were two separate elements. Plot grows out of character. Certainly, sometimes one starts with a good plot, but unless it can be fleshed out with three dimensional people it is a wasted plot.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though I don\u2019t view them as entirely separate, today I\u2019d like to share my thoughts on fleshing out characters with you. Our goal as authors is to make our readers feel<\/em> for our characters as they would the real people in their lives. The more our readers care about them, the more emotion and imagination they\u2019ll invest our stories. The most common list of character considerations is found in the acrostic, CHARACTER. You can find lists such as these all over the internet and there is no one list or right list to follow. In fact, it is generally best for an author to formulate his or her own list of considerations. In doing so, the traits and motivations that will appear are in keeping with that author\u2019s writing style and the story and characters he or she has in mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once we have listed our characters\u2019 traits and motivations, we then envision them in the circumstances contained in our planned story. I take it two steps further. I try to envision them in circumstances that not only have nothing to do with the story I have in mind, but also in opposite roles. By going through this process, I come to know my characters, their similarities and differences, and their limitations. In my new novel, Omorphi, if I hadn\u2019t been able to envision Michael and Christy before they met each other, I wouldn\u2019t have known them as individuals. Similarly, if I had been able to envision them in reversed roles, I would have failed in my efforts to create distinctive characters.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From the first half of the prologue (excerpt below) and the first chapter of Omorphi here<\/a>, we have \u201cA Day in the Life of Michael Before Christy\u201d and know a lot about Michael as a person, but we know nothing of Christy. Christy\u2019s character and his motivations unfold as the story progresses. For purposes of this post, I wrote a small bonus scene\u2014 or, not so small. It ended up being seven pages long. I\u2019m fairly certain I need therapy for indiscriminate propagation of words. \u201cA Day in the Life of Christy before Michael\u201d can be read here<\/a>. From the prologue, chapter one, and the bonus scene, I\u2019ve created the following character development list.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>C<\/strong>ommunication style:<\/strong><\/p>\n Much of our characters\u2019 personalities comes through speech; think about the way characters will speak. Each character\u2019s style of communication should be unique, and interesting. How does the character talk? Does s\/he favor certain words or phrases? The sound of his\/her voice?<\/p>\n Michael: Honest, almost to a fault and isn\u2019t afraid to say what\u2019s on his mind. Accent, speech pattern, and vocabulary are typically all-American-teen-casual until he becomes upset. When upset, his speech becomes more dramatic. Michael\u2019s favorite phrase (along with his best friend, Jake) is \u201cAlways here for you, bro.\u201d Swears occasionally.<\/p>\n Christy: Can\u2019t communicate due to neck injury in beginning of story; when he finally can speak, he is reserved in speech and action. Though honest, afraid to speak what\u2019s on his mind. Greek, but does speak English with Greek accent which he is able to overcome\/hide. Vocabulary is extensive in Greek but limited in English, speech pattern, inflection, sentence structure and grammar tuned to foreign language. Does not have a favorite line. Does not swear.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>H<\/strong>istory:<\/strong> You may not need to provide all of this background to your reader, but it\u2019s important to know as it gives the character substance in your mind as you write. Where does the character come from? What was the character\u2019s childhood and adolescence like? What events shaped the character\u2019s personality? Did the character have a loving family or an abusive, dysfunctional one? What events led the character to the choices s\/he made?<\/p>\n Michael: From America, comes from a \u201cnormal,\u201d loving family, and lives an unmarred life.<\/p>\n Christy: From Greece, comes from a horrific background of abuse, has led a live of sexual slavery, and is just beginning to learn how to live.<\/strong><\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>A<\/strong>ppearance:<\/strong><\/p>\n Unless you\u2019re writing a story like Elephant Man, this may be the least important component to make a character a person to the reader, but an author should have it in his\/her own mind. What does he\/she look like? Hint: most people aren\u2019t beautiful in appearance.<\/p>\n Michael: Basic, no frills, plain wrap guy. Brown curly hair, green eyes. Typical runner\u2019s body, tall, and slim. Dresses casually whenever possible.<\/p>\n Christy: Values appearance and is self-conscious; is unaware of his own beauty-the face of an angel. Beautiful eyes, skin, long, white-blond curly, hair. Stature is short, bordering on too thin, frail. Values his appearance and must always wear nice (and matching) clothes. He has favorites in lace and silk. Loves pretty baubles, bracelets and barrettes. Puts exceptional effort into caring for his long hair.<\/p>\n 4. <\/strong>R<\/strong>elationships:<\/strong> People are often defined by the company they keep. What kind of friends and family does the character have? How does the character relate to them? Is the character very social or reclusive, or somewhere in between?<\/p>\n Michael: Very social, easy going, and has a wholesome best friend who is like a brother to him.<\/p>\n Christy: Has no idea how to be social, reclusive, emotionally closed off until he meets Michael, yet has a fellow resident at Wellington who he cares deeply about (4 year-old Darien).<\/p>\n 5. <\/strong>A<\/strong>mbition\/Motivation\/Goal:<\/strong> <\/b>This is not only the central concept of any character, but it is also central to plot. What is the character\u2019s passion in life? What goal is the character trying to accomplish through the story? Does the character have an unrecognized, internal need and how will the character meet it?<\/p>\n Michael: Desperately wants a feminine boyfriend; wants to protect Christy at all costs.<\/p>\n Christy: Desperately wants to be loved and protected; wants to be \u201cnormal.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n 6. <\/strong>C<\/strong>haracter defect:<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone has a personality trait that irritates friends or family and s\/he will feel more real<\/em> if s\/he has some flaw, but don\u2019t get carried away. After all, you want your readers to like your characters. This flaw can often be connected to a character\u2019s unrecognized need: ambition\/motivation\/goal, and often gets resolved through character arc. Is he self-centered? Competitive? Lazy? Compliant? Demanding of others? Afraid? Unaware?<\/p>\n Michael: Unaware, stubborn, and can be temperamental.<\/p>\n Christy: Afraid, self-effacing, and compliant.<\/p>\n 7. <\/strong>T<\/strong>houghts:<\/strong> In real life, we don\u2019t have the benefit of knowing someone\u2019s innermost thoughts, but a story allows us to do just that. What kind of internal dialogue does the character have? How does the character think through problems and dilemmas? Is the character\u2019s internal voice the same as external voice? If not, does this create internal conflict?<\/p>\n Michael: Michael has a very distinctive internal dialogue and, in fact, argues with the little voice in his head. The little voice continues to taunt and chide him through the story. Michael also believes every problem has a solution.<\/p>\n Christy: Christy has a very distinctive internal dialogue that is entirely off screen and reflected through his nature: hesitation, expressive eyes, odd little one-brow frown, tentative words. Christy is also acutely aware of life\u2019s injustices and his own limitations.<\/p>\n 8. <\/strong>E<\/strong>veryman-ness:<\/strong> Take care not to make your character too unusual or readers may have a difficult time living vicariously through them. I\u2019ll add that a reader\u2019s ability to live through characters is key to a successful story. How relatable is the character?<\/p>\n Michael: Very relatable in that he is comfortable to \u201cbe around.\u201d<\/p>\n Christy: Relatable in that the reader is able to empathize with him, his plight(s), and his determination and desire to be \u201cnormal.\u201d<\/p>\n 9. <\/strong>R<\/strong>estrictions:<\/strong> Think Achilles\u2019 tendon. More than a personality flaw, a character\u2019s limitation(s) help humanize the character and make him\/her more sympathetic and relatable. What physical or mental weakness must your character overcome through his\/her arc?<\/p>\n Michael: His lack of awareness poses a threat to his ability to understand and help Christy.<\/p>\n Christy: The list is long. Childlike reasoning and judgment, lacks psychological and social maturity, anger management issues, stubbornness, blind determination, but most of all fear.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In sum, the more we know<\/i> about our characters before we begin to write a story, the better our plots are driven.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n Excerpt:<\/strong><\/p>\n PROLOGUE<\/p>\n UPSTATE NEW YORK, March, 2011 (9 months before Michael meets Christy)<\/p>\n Michael slammed the front door, went straight to his room, and flopped onto his bed. Staring at the darkened ceiling, he thought he shouldn\u2019t have slammed the door. He didn\u2019t want to wake his parents. He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands and reminded himself for the umpteenth time in his seventeen-year history that he had to date girls to keep up appearances, no matter how much he hated it.<\/p>\n His mom filled the doorway to his room and leaned a petite shoulder against the doorjamb, concern in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, I didn\u2019t mean to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014slam the door,\u201d he finished softly.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you should give it up?\u201d<\/p>\n He ran an angry hand through his chestnut curls. \u201cYa think?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBought you something.\u201d She tossed the latest edition of Crash<\/i>, the French fashion magazine, to him. He caught it against his chest and sat up quickly. She flipped the light switch, illuminating his room in the golden glow of the bedside lamp, and sat next to him on the bed. Tracing a fingertip down the cover model\u2019s cheek, she said, \u201cHe\u2019s beautiful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2026 and very. Thanks.\u201d He one-arm hugged her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy do you continue to put yourself through this misery?\u201d<\/p>\n He released an anguished sigh. \u201cI need to do it for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled ruefully. \u201cWhat time do you need to be up tomorrow?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeven. The meet starts at ten.\u201d<\/p>\n She stood and brushed a gentle hand over his hair. \u201cSee you in the morning. Sweet dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove you. And thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLove you more. And you\u2019re welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n Michael flopped onto his back and studied the beauty on the magazine cover. He\u2019d ached to have a boyfriend for as long as he could remember, and his heart almost couldn\u2019t take it anymore. It felt cracked. Shattered was more like it. Maybe crushed was an even better word. An eggshell crushed by agonizing loneliness and raw longing. Why can\u2019t I find someone like you, Andrej Peji\u0107?<\/i> His cell phone vibrated in his pocket, and he didn\u2019t need to look at it to know who it was. Jake Santini was his best friend and like a brother to him.<\/p>\n \u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019d it go, bro?\u201d Jake\u2019s deep voice rumbled in his ear.<\/p>\n \u201cLike all the others. Once I can\u2019t get past the kissing, they get pissed off. Then I get pissed off. Then I take them home and cringe when I think about seeing them at school.\u201d<\/p>\n Jake chuckled softly, not unkind. \u201cAt least you\u2019re consistent. Sorry, man. What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael traced the pretty, blond curls on the magazine cover. \u201cMom bought me another magazine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou jerking off yet?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael made a face at the question. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook, bro, you know I love you, but you can\u2019t spend your entire virginity pining over that Andrew guy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s Andrej, and she\u2019s the prettiest boy-girl in the world, and why not?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever, man. It\u2019s unhealthy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll guys jerk off, and it\u2019s not only healthy, it\u2019s normal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m talking about the pining part. You gotta do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll just send Andrej an e-mail asking her out.\u201d<\/p>\n Jake laughed. \u201cYou know, if anyone else said that to me I\u2019d tell him a supermodel was out of his league. But with you, knowing how everything seems to fall into place for you, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if he said yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe, he, does it really matter? I\u2019ll leave you to it, then. See you tomorrow around eight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2019Night, bro.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Jake?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlways being there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlways here for you, bro.\u201d<\/p>\n ****<\/p>\n About Cody:<\/strong><\/p>\n Raised on the mean streets and back lots of Hollywood by a Yoda-look-alike grandfather, Cody Kennedy doesn’t conform, doesn’t fit in, is epic awkward and lives to perfect a deep-seated oppositional defiance disorder. In a constant state of fascination with the trivial, Cody contemplates such weighty questions as: If time and space are curved, then where do all the straight people come from? When not writing, Cody can be found taming waves on western shores, pondering the nutritional value of sunsets, appreciating the much maligned dandelion, unhooking guide ropes from stanchions, and marveling at all things ordinary.<\/p>\n Cody’s Blog<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Facebook\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Goodreads\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Twitter @CodyKAuthor\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cody’s Free Read Fairy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Follow Omorphi’s blog tour for three chances to win an ebook copy of Omorphi!<\/strong><\/p>\n September 9th – Pre-kickoff post –\u00a0Cody is a Featured Author\u00a0on\u00a0True Colorz<\/a>\u00a0and answers questions about penning Omoprhi<\/p>\n September 15th –\u00a0The Novel Approach<\/a>\u00a0– Pre-release Q&A with Cody and a chance to win an ebook copy of Omorphi\u00a0Review by The Novel Approach<\/a><\/p>\n September 18th –\u00a0Author Will Parkinson<\/a>\u00a0– Will holds nervous Cody’s hand the day before Omorphi’s release because he promised to and Cody talks about Omorphi’s Cover and Bringing Omorphi to Life<\/p>\n September 19th –\u00a0Mrs. Condit & Friends Read Books<\/a>\u00a0– Cody writes Perils and Pitfalls of Post Production Public Relations and a SECOND chance to win an ebook copy of Omorphi!\u00a0Review by Mrs. Condit & Friends<\/a><\/p>\n September 19th –\u00a0Smile, Somebody Loves You<\/a>\u00a0– Announcement post and Cody shares Omorphi Trivia with Beverly and Tamara<\/p>\n September 20th –\u00a0Author Shira Anthony<\/a>\u00a0– Why I write the kind of stories that I do by Cody<\/p>\n September 21st –\u00a0Author Jamie Mayfield<\/a>\u00a0– Why Omorphi and A Broken Kind of Life are Same but Different<\/p>\n Also\u00a0on September 21st –\u00a0Harmony Ink Press on Facebook<\/a>: Meet Cody Kennedy and Jamie Mayfield<\/p>\n September 22nd –\u00a0Cody’s Blog<\/a>\u00a0– Tony Edmondson, Fan Extraordinaire, interviews Cody<\/p>\n September 27th –\u00a0Author Wade Kelly<\/a>\u00a0– Character Interview with Christy Castle<\/p>\n September 28th –\u00a0Author Iyana Jenna<\/a>, Fairy Fan Extraordinaire, Q&A with Christy Castle<\/p>\n September 29th –\u00a0Author Zoe Lynn<\/a>\u00a0– The Notes Behind Omorphi’s Play List<\/p>\n October 4th –\u00a0Sid Love’s Blog<\/a>\u00a0– Why the title Omorphi?<\/p>\n October 5th –\u00a0Author Madison Parker<\/a>\u00a0–\u00a0What\u00a0makes Omorphi unique?<\/p>\n October 6th –\u00a0Author John Ames<\/a>\u00a0– Q&A with\u00a0Michael Sattler<\/p>\n October 12th –\u00a0Boys on the Brink<\/a>\u00a0– Omorphi: Writing Sex and Violence in Young Adult works<\/p>\n October 13th –\u00a0Author Jamie Fessenden<\/a>\u00a0– Cody shares Omorphi Trivia with Jamie<\/p>\n October 18th –\u00a0Granny Irene<\/a>\u00a0– A Day in the Life of Christy Castle before Michael<\/p>\n October 18th –\u00a0Author Sara Alva<\/a>\u00a0– Cody talks about Character Development and compares A Day in the life of Michael before Christy with A Day in the Life of Christy before Michael<\/p>\n October 19th –\u00a0Author Sam Kadence<\/a>\u00a0– Cody Talks About Writing Action and the Suspension of Disbelief<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/img542.imageshack.us\/img542\/6849\/7gas.jpg\")
High school senior Michael Sattler leads a charmed life. He’s a star athlete, has great friends, and parents who love him just the way he is. What’s missing from his life is a boyfriend. That’s a problem because he’s out only to his parents and best friend. When Michael accidentally bumps into Christy Castle at school, his life changes in ways he never imagined. Christy is Michael’s dream guy: smart, pretty, and sexy. But nothing could have prepared Michael for what being Christy’s boyfriend\u00a0would entail.<\/p>\nCody talks about Character Development<\/strong><\/h2>\n